Home plug oddity

Rik · Nov 01, 2010, 11:36:43

I don't use them, so I'm at a bit of a loss, but I've been asked this question:

QuoteI got a home plug kit to allow my shiny new internet capable tv to get internet access in our equally shiny new conservatory (the other option was the dedicated Sony usb dongle which is a complete rip off). I decided to test the connection on my laptop first so installed the small monitoring program and plugged everything in. All i can get is "local" internet access. I dont seem to be able to connect to the primary DNS server, although it did manage to connect to the linksys routers site to check for anything obvious but everything looked normal. I tried turning off the firewall to no avail.

The laptop works fine with the router when connected with a conventional cable. The home plugs are connected directly into wall sockets on the same ring main. It looks like a DNS issue but i can't for the life of me think why it won't work. I thought these things literally needed no setup at all.

I haven't yet found out the brand, but all thoughts gratefully received.

Steve · Nov 01, 2010, 11:53:13

Normally just plug and go even without pairing, if he/she been playing with passwords/pairing suggest a reset to default and try again. I do get the occasional hassle with loss of internet connection but that usually is resolved by switching the home plug attached to the router on and off. It could of course be the laptop but it shouldn't be any different than a normal ethernet cable connection,could try setting DNS locally on the NIC. It might work ok on the TV

Rik · Nov 01, 2010, 11:53:48

Thanks, Steve.

Gary · Nov 01, 2010, 11:55:28

Not sure if anything here will help http://www.homeplugs.co.uk/acatalog/faqs.html

Steve · Nov 01, 2010, 11:57:12

If it's the 1GB variety send em back.

Gary · Nov 01, 2010, 11:58:03

Quote from: Steve on Nov 01, 2010, 11:57:12
If it's the 1GB variety send em back.

Do they have issues Steve?

Rik · Nov 01, 2010, 11:58:37

Quote from: Steve on Nov 01, 2010, 11:57:12
If it's the 1GB variety send em back.

I'll find out.

Gary · Nov 01, 2010, 11:59:59

I have heard Netgear ones can be a pain compared with other makes, something about interoperability as well

Rik · Nov 01, 2010, 12:00:42

That sounds like a versatile surgeon, Gary.

Gary · Nov 01, 2010, 12:02:38

Quote from: Rik on Nov 01, 2010, 12:00:42
That sounds like a versatile surgeon, Gary.

By the looks of some celebrity face lifts that's probably the case, but more the jack of all trades master of none variety

Rik · Nov 01, 2010, 12:04:15

Bill · Nov 01, 2010, 14:55:26

Like Steve, I've found they're just plug 'n go... but I've never tried using the pairing/password software, didn't see the point.

I've had a pair in use for about 5 years, no problems at all. They're the early ones, can't remember the speed but they've always been fast enough for what I need. Including (so far) connecting to the Apple TV.

edit- just had a look, they're the 85Mbps ones, not the slower ones.

Technical Ben · Nov 01, 2010, 14:57:21

Quote from: Bill on Nov 01, 2010, 14:55:26
Like Steve, I've found they're just plug 'n go... but I've never tried using the pairing/password software, didn't see the point.

I've had a pair in use for about 5 years, no problems at all. They're the early ones, can't remember the speed but they've always been fast enough for what I need. Including (so far) connecting to the Apple TV.

Hmmm. I wonder if without the password you could get someone's connection through the electric wires!

Well, at least if it's shared accommodation like a student board.

Bill · Nov 01, 2010, 15:02:45

Quote from: Technical Ben on Nov 01, 2010, 14:57:21
Hmmm. I wonder if without the password you could get someone's connection through the electric wires!
Well, at least if it's shared accommodation like a student board.

Ah, for something like shared accomodation I might think differently

But for ordinary houses, the chance of a neighbour picking it up is pretty negligible... because of the 3-phase distribution the nearest would be 3 doors away and via two electricity meters, and that's a bit much for a HomePlug!

esh · Nov 01, 2010, 15:51:58

The important thing to determine is it IS a DNS issue or not. Simple pick your favourite website on an ethernet-connected PC and find out it's IP address (via traceroute or so on), then try and connect to this IP via a homeplug system. That will determine if you're getting outside access or not. If you aren't it could be some glitch with DHCP. Output of "ipconfig/all" is useful!

davej99 · Nov 01, 2010, 20:54:41

To test I plug both homeplugs into the same dual socket, connect one to pc, one to router, in place of proven good direct cable. There should be no difference cable versus home plug. It is just ethernet pass-through.

If home plugs do not connect I use the utility provided by the vendor (in my case Zyxel 401, 200Mbps) to detect the homeplugs. One should show local, ie connected the PC, and the other remote, ie connected to router. In this case both are OK.

If only the local is seen switch the homeplugs. If no local plug is seen, then it is faulty. If only local is seen again then there is a password or firmware mismatch. In the case of Zyxel, I believe the various firmwares are not compatible. Re-flashing firmwares, one at a time as the local connection resets any forgotten passwords and ensures compatibility. Then test again.

I have has 1/4 fail after 2 years. I have found occasionally pair of house sockets will not work and another has to be chosen.

Odos · Nov 02, 2010, 01:36:16

A simple possibility, are either of the homeplugs plugged into an extension lead or one of those four socket trailing sockets?

I've used these things for years and the only time I had any problem was when using a trailing socket. Doing a lot of web searching at the time I discovered they are not designed to work with any form of extension, something to do with RF interference in the extension cable.

Bill · Nov 02, 2010, 09:23:32

Quote from: Odos on Nov 02, 2010, 01:36:16I discovered they are not designed to work with any form of extension

Not really true I'm afraid... both mine are on trailing sockets (one 4-way, one 6-way) and working fine. They probably won't achieve their full speed, however.

As a guide:

They work best if plugged directly into the wall socket.

They'll probably work well enough (but slower) in a decent quality trailing socket that does not have built-in filters or spike suppressors.

Unlikely to work at all with a noise filter or suppressor.

From Rik's OP it sounds as though they could connect to the Linksys site (presumably by using the IP address instead of the url), in which case they're working and the problem is somewhere else.

Rik · Nov 02, 2010, 10:34:05

That was how I read it, Bill. They are both directly into wall sockets on the same ring main.

Steve · Nov 02, 2010, 10:37:33

I've not had any real issues on extension leads either although I avoid the one with a surge protector. Incidentally I lost 3 this summer i.e they no longer worked over a very short period of time, a voltage surge I presume.

Rik · Nov 02, 2010, 10:38:41

We've had a lot of nasty spikes this year, Steve. I wonder if the grid has been having problems?

Steve · Nov 02, 2010, 10:41:02

Also I've had issues like the daapd server ,is not broadcast or the port not available using one type of home plug.

Rik · Nov 02, 2010, 10:41:48

Any solutions?

Bill · Nov 02, 2010, 10:42:47

Quote from: Rik on Nov 02, 2010, 10:34:05
That was how I read it, Bill. They are both directly into wall sockets on the same ring main.

One thing I've just thought of- Sally had a Seimens laptop running XP and when her Huawei router died I put in a Speedtouch (from eBay, with fairly old firmware).

Her laptop WOULD NOT pick up the DNS servers from TalkTalk, though my MacBook was fine... some weird incompatibility somewhere. I had to set it to use OpenDNS. Might be worth checking.

Rik · Nov 02, 2010, 10:43:20

Thanks Bill.